This performance DVD was filmed in March of 2004 at the Sodra Teatern
in Stockholm, Sweden, and captures the wonderfully quirky duo of Sparks
at its best. This sibling act, comprised of brothers Ron and Russell
Mael, has been making its perverse little brand of music since 1970,
and comes off here just as sarcastic, funny, smart and insightful as
ever.

Sparks was touring in support of its Lil’ Beethoven release when this
concert documentary was filmed, and the timing was perfect, since that
studio disc is also one of the group’s best. Although the storyline is
a little sketchy – about a supposed distant relative of composer
Beethoven – this show nevertheless includes plenty of fine songs.
However, Sparks’ real purpose is not to tell a story, but rather to
provide humorous social commentary on a wide variety of subjects. So if
you love sarcasm, you’ll likely be delighted by this show.

This concert disc opens with “The Rhythm Thief,” as the show’s set list
mirrors the Lil’ Beethoven release’s song order. This opening number is
sung from the perspective of someone evilly intent on letting all of
the air out of the dance music balloon by completely removing its beat.
Music, obviously, would have to be a common theme on any album named
after an imagined Beethoven family member, so much of the concert’s
content is music-related. Not surprisingly, the old adage about how
practice is the only way to make it to Carnegie Hall is explored with
“How Do I Get To Carnegie Hall?” The best music-related performance,
however, is one called “What Are These Bands So Angry About?” It serves
as an examination of the whole recent grunge music movement.
Remember when every new band that came along had a big chip on its
shoulder? Naturally, this grumpy genre presented stark competition for
acts such as Sparks, because the Mael brothers have always gone for the
brainy over the brawny. But it also makes you wonder just how much of
this movement’s anger was real, and how much of it was merely put on
simply for effect. Sparks survived the grunge trend, and has continued
on, despite many other movements before and after it.

Russell Mael sings lead on all Sparks’ songs, and always does so with a
wonderfully sardonic inflection in his voice. It’s impossible not to
grin while he performs. Lyrically, he’s almost like a comedian in the
way he has fun with the foibles of human behavior. So when he
pontificates on boy/girl stuff, for instance, it must be hard for him
to do so with a straight face. Although it’s not specifically another
music-related song, the lifestyles of certain rock stars almost
certainly inspired the words to “Ugly Guys With Beautiful Girls.” How
many times have you read about a butt-ugly rock performer that married
a smokin’ hot supermodel right after making it big? The brothers of
Sparks certainly notice this unfair trend, and it troubles them.
Relationship issues, and the near impossibility of making such
partnerships work, mostly likely drove Sparks to create the track “I
Married Myself.” It’s a sad one, too, in that the only recourse for
this particular character – presumably taken after several failed
couplings -- was to engage in the extreme action of marrying himself.
Ironically, he expresses how he’s never been happier. Now isn’t this
romantic narcissism at its most tragic?

Sparks likes nothing better than to point out the ridiculousness of
particular human personality types. For instance, “Suburban Homeboy”
takes a sardonic view of the way white people always try so hard to
look, sound, and act black. This practice has been going on ever since
Pat Boone ripped off Little Richard and whitewashed rock and roll.
Similarly, gangsta rappers wouldn’t be traveling with all that
bling-bling if middle class white kids weren’t also laying down big
buck for their CDs and buying into the whole thug life lifestyle. On
“Your Call’s Very Important To Us, Please Hold,” Sparks examines the
impersonal nature of our modern automatic phone systems. The song title
alone exposes this common contradiction: If a phone call were really
important, wouldn’t somebody pick up the call right away?

Watching Sparks perform live here is – at least visually – a little bit
like witnessing a Cheap Trick show. Only cut in half. Just as Cheap
Trick is comprised of two cute guys and two nerds, Sparks has one cute
guy, and one sort of Hitler-y, dorky, nerdy guy. While Russell, the
cute one, stands up front and sings the songs, Ron lays back and plays
the keyboards. Rather than using words to express himself, however, Ron
mugs at the camera and even dances a bit now and again. And at one
point, he faces Russell and holds up a lit Bic lighter during “What Are
These Bands So Angry About?”

Musically, a live Sparks show is primarily driven by pre-recorded
keyboard sounds, although on this tour, a keyboardist and an electric
guitarist also accompanied it. It is obvious that these four musicians
alone aren’t making all of the sounds that can be heard, but whereas
such pre-recorded performances might offer a distraction in the hands
of lesser artists, Sparks is just too visually stimulating for such
foreknowledge to bother you much at all. This is because you just can’t
take your eyes off of these Mael brothers.

In addition to a complete performance of the CD Lil’ Beethoven, this
show also features Sparks playing many of its favorite catalogue songs.
Older tunes include “The Ghost of Liberace” and “Talent Is an Asset.”
Clearly, this set list was designed for diehard fans. Nevertheless, it
still would have been fun to see duo also do hits like “Cool Places”
and “I Predict.” This DVD’s extras include Russell trying to explain
the legend of Lil’ Beethoven, as well as an especially funny interview
bit with Ron backstage. It’s silly, in a “This Is Spinal Tap” sort of
way, to hear Ron talk about all the supposed special treatment Sparks
receives while on tour. Although this bit was more than likely
improvised, it makes one wonder what Ron Mael might accomplish with a
longer piece. He obviously has that dry comedic thing down pat.

Although Sparks has never been a blockbuster act, the material on this
DVD evidences why it still retains such strong staying power. So if
you’re tired of watching all of those faux-angry bands and suburban
homeboys crowding the MTV airwaves, Sparks may well give you a welcome
jolt of intelligent humor. Unlike so much of today’s trendy
now-you-dig-it, now-you-don’t acts, Sparks seemingly never gets old. In
other words, its music is timeless.

more details

sound format:

Dolby Digital 5.1

aspect ratio(s):

16:9

special features:

Backstage with Sparks; The Legend of Lil’ Beethoven; Sound Check and Meet the Fans; Sparks Facts